Device for use in playing athletic games, sports or in fly-casting, etc.



Aug. 13,1935. 5, P HAYWARD 2,011,362

OR IN FLY CASTING,

ETC

DEVICE FOR USE IN PLAYING ATHLETIC GAMES, SPORTS Filed June 13, 1934 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 13, 1935 DEVICE FOR USE IN PLAYING ATHLETIC GAMES, SPORTS OR IN FLY-CASTING,

ETC.

Sterling P. Hayward, Montclair, N. J assignor to H-B Wrist Snapper, Inc., a corporationof New Jersey Application June 13, 1934, Serial No. 730,472

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a device for use in playing athletic games, sports or in fly-casting, etc.

The object of my invention isto quicken the Wrist-action of the user, that is, to impart a snap to the wrist action, so that a more effective yet controlled blow can be delivered by the hand or a club, racket, bat or stick held by the hand.

A further object is to increase the force or momentum of a blow imparted by the hand, club, racket, bat or stick, when the hand is so equipped with my device.

A still further object is to develop the muscles of the wrist of the user.

Other objects will appear more fully in the description which follows.

The successful stroke in tennis, handball and golf, and the successful cast in fly-casting, is one that is properly timed, perfectly controlled and forcefully made. Heretofore the better attainment of this object has, among other methods, been sought by adding weights in various manners and places on the club, racket, hat or stick. I have discovered, however, that this purpose may be accomplished by the addition to the back of the hand of a weight securelyv attached thereto so that it moves with the hand as though an integral part thereof. As a further refinement I prefer to curve the weight to fit the shape of the back of the hand, or to employ a yielding metal that can adapt itself under the pressure of attachment to the contour of the hand, in substantially the manner shown on the drawing. Unless the hand and attached weight move as one, the player loses much of the beneficial effect of the weight, a loose weight being distracting and disconcerting to the players mind during the course of play.

The hand, weighted as I have described, retains its freedom of motion and achieves greater momentum in all of its movements. It is thus enabled to impart a greater driving blow without a greater conscious effort on the part of the user. Furthermore, the addition of the weight tends to steady the hand and provide greater control over its movements, thus assisting in forming the habit of properly timing a blow or stroke. I have found the device especially effective in correcting What is known to golfers as a"slice.

The method of securing the weight to the hand that I prefer to use, and as I have illustrated in the drawing, leaves the palm of the hand free from any artificial covering so that the user may grasp the club or stick, freely and naturally without hindrance. Or, as in the case of the handball player, he is free to add a palm protecting pad if he chooses to do so.

Not only is this device applicable to the games I have enumerated but also to other uses where a quick flip or snap of the wrist or a swing of the arm is required.

The drawing illustrates one means of attachment of my device to the hand, although I do not limit my invention to the particular embodiment shown. The four figures contained in the draw-' ing are:

Fig. 1. A full face view of the outer surface of the device as it appears when attached to the back of the hand.

Fig. 2. A view of the device when the palm of the hand is exhibited. I r Fig. 3. A side view of the device as it appears when attached to the hand.

Fig. 4. A cross-section transversely through the center of the device.

Referring to the numbered parts in the four views, each part carrying the same identifying number wherever shown, the construction is as follows: I

The weight carrying, or supporting, member I, of leather, canvas, or similar material, covers the back of the hand and is attached to the hand by means of finger loops 4 and adjustable straps 5 which encircle the wrist. The weight 2, shaped to the contour of the back of the hand and composed of a relatively soft and yielding metal to permit its adaptation to the shape of any particular hand, is permanently attached to, and suitably concealed on the outer surface of l by a covering 6 sewed or otherwise attached thereon.

The weight 2 may be further separated from the skin of the back of the hand'by a padding 3 of cotton or similar substance to serve as a.

cushion.

While I realize many devices have been developed that embody the use of weights in and about the players equipment, I believe that the advantages of my device are that as it is molded to the back of the hand it is unobtrusive and easy and convenient to use and yet furnishes all the well-known advantages of added weighttoa driving blow.

What I claim is: I

1. A device comprising a weight adaptable to the contour of the back of the hand and means for securing it to the fingers and wrist only, whereby the palm and fingers of the hand are left free for grasping and holding any object.

2. A device comprising a weight shaped to conform to the outline of the back of the hand and means for securing it thereto by members connecting it to the fingers and wrist only, whereby the palm and fingers of the hand are left free for grasping and holding any object.

3. A device comprising a weight adaptable to the contour of the back of the hand, a covering for the back of the hand to which said weight is affixed, and means for securing covering to the fingers and wrist in such a manner that the palm and fingers of the hand are left free for grasping and holding any object. 7

'i 4. A device comprising a weight adaptable to the contour of the back of the hand, a covering for the back of the hand to which said weight is afiixedt and finger loops and adjustable wrist straps to secure said covering to the hand;

5. A device comprising a weight adaptable to the contour of the back of the hand and held in a fixed position thereon by supporting means interposed between the weightand the back of the hand and secured to the'hand by means of finger loops and adjustable wrist straps.

6. A device comprising a weight adaptable to the contour of the back of the hand which is encased in a weight-carrying member, said mem-' her being secured in a fixed position on the back of the hand by means of finger loops and adjustable wrist straps.

- STERLING P. HAYWARD. 

